Daily Archives: October 2, 2017
Toyota Hybrid Pickup Is Still Possible
The recently concluded State Fair of Texas proved to be the perfect venue to introduce and possibly even tease the future of pickup trucks. Japanese automaker Toyota is looking to star in the perfect headline by, as of today, studying the possibility of making a hybrid pickup.
Right now, what we’re sure of is what Ed Laukes, the group’s vice president of marketing, told Automotive News that the new Toyota Tacoma will feature upgraded powertrains. That will be part of the superb performance and marketability of the incoming Tacoma.
But when asked about the possibility of hybrid pickup trucks, Laukes was also quick to answer: there was no reason why hybrid pickup trucks shouldn’t be considered. Remember, there is also the need to meet CAFE standards. CAFE stands for Corporate Average Fuel Economy and refers to the regulations in the United States that aims to improve average fuel economy of cars and light trucks.
Even the president of Toyota Canada believes that there is room for hybrid pickup trucks in the future. Earlier this year, Larry Hutchinson said that “we’ve looked at it seriously” even if there’s little to no demand for hybrid trucks today.
Although the statements came from top Toyota officials, these shouldn’t ring true unless a concept is pushed through. Come to think of it, that may even remain as a mere concept since there is a long road between an idea and the presence of the truck in an actual showroom.
And yet, we want to believe that this particular gossip is true for the simple reason that hybrid pickup news has a prolonged stay in the rumor mill. This is one speculation that just won’t go away. You can’t blame people for being pessimistic about this. There is a history of disappointments that started with the Toyota A-BAT concept hybrid pickup in 2008 and the scrapped collaboration with Ford in 2011.
Still, back then, the two biggest automakers in the industry promised to bring into fruition a hybrid pickup truck. Toyota, at least, seems to have confirmed that studies are being made already.
Things We Saw In The 2018 Suzuki Jimny Leaks
To say that the Suzuki Jimny is so doggone cute is an understatement. If you want the “look” of a Jeep Wrangler but don’t have the cash for it, the Jimny is your next best thing. It’s affordable, but it managed to perform well and look good as well (though the last one is debatable).
Do you know that Mercedes-Benz wants to have a mini version of its G-Class? However, they still don’t have it, probably because it’s too expensive to make. Well, it looks like Suzuki not only has the same thing in mind, they actually outperformed the German brand by releasing the model.
G-Class Lookalike
Don’t fret. The Japanese automaker’s upgrade of the Jimny is every inch a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, minus the badge, of course. Mercedes fans will be happy to know that Suzuki didn’t exactly copy what the G-Class looks like. If you already saw the previous generation Jimny, you know that this particular model is influenced by the Japanese brand. It has boxy lines and round headlights—features that belong to the original Jimny.
Oh, just before you begin to question it, the Jimny predates the G-Class.
Nothing Extraordinary
There is no official information yet on what the new Jimny will come packing with. In previous generations, Suzuki’s subcompact SUV rode on a body-on-frame platform. If the leaks are reliable, this is what we’ll probably find in the new generation, as well as the choice of either 2- or 4-wheel-drive. Experts believe that Suzuki will delve into the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine for the Jimny. This is the same engine that debuted in the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport.
The engine can produce 140 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque.
Mark Your Calendar
The October 2017 Tokyo Motor Show looks to be the perfect opportunity for Suzuki to introduce its new Jimny. But US residents may not be able to take a glimpse of the new Jimny. Remember Suzuki exited the US market back in 2012?
